Profiling Purported QPR Signing Kaspars Gorkss

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According to various reports, QPR are set to win (or have already won) the race to sign Blackpool's 27 year-old Lativan defender, Kaspars Gorkšs - beating off Norwich and Ipswich; Watford and Preston, among others. But obviously till his signing is announced by the club, it's all speculative. Gorkss joined Blackpool in January 2007. - Also: The Chase for Gorkss Heats Up

Blackpool Official Site Profile
Name: Kaspars Gorkss - Nationality: Latvian - Date of Birth: 06/11/1981
Height: 6' 3" (191cm) - Weight: 13st 5lbs (85.0kg) - Previous Clubs: Osters IF, FK Ventspils - Position: Defender
Kaspars has firmly established himself at the heart of the Blackpool defence this season after initially arriving at the club in January 2007 from FK Ventspils. The Latvian international has had remarkable season in Tangerine and even scored his first goal for his country against Denmark in October. The defender has also become somewhat of a likely goalscoring hero at Bloomfield as well this campaign with seven goals so far. Blackpool

Blackpool Gazette/Steve Canavan, May 15, 2008 - Just talk says Gorkss
KASPARS Gorkss has labelled talk of him departing Bloomfield Road this summer as "just rumours".
The Seasiders centre back has become a sought-after figure after a fine season in the Championship.
After producing a string of rock-solid performances, as well as chipping in with seven goals, Gorkss has been linked with a number of clubs, including Glasgow Rangers, Crystal Palace, Watford, Norwich, Burnley and Preston.
Gorkss can't rule out a move – not least because he has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave for a fee believed to be in the £250,000 region.
But he isn't fretting about his future and has tried to reassure Blackpool fans that they shouldn't either.
"There have been a lot of rumours and nothing has happened," said Gorkss. "From rumours to really going somewhere is a long way.
"From my point of view it's just a case of carrying on and seeing what happens, that's all I can really do.
"I'll let other people worry about the other things.
"The only thing I have been trying to do is prove to myself that I can play in England and play at this level.
"If the fans and media and the manager and everybody else appreciates that, it is a bonus.
"But first I need to prove to myself that I'm good enough and I think I did that last season."
Gorkss prevented Stephen Crainey from recording a clean-sweep at the player of the season awards by picking up a trophy.
It was a sweet moment for the Latvian, who wasn't even in the team for the first game of the season at Leicester.
"I've never won an award before so I was very pleased to get something," added Gorkss.
"It's nice too because I feel that I finally showed what I could do this season.
"The first year I knew would be tough because obviously I signed for Blackpool in the January, when I had just had two months off because the season in Latvia had ended, so it was hard to get fit physically to go straight in.
"It was still a struggle last summer because during the pre-season I didn't get any full games.
"I just felt a bit frustrated and a bit left out to be honest but with what's happened since you can see how quickly things can change in football.
"Looking back at the start of the season and not playing at Leicester, I guess I got a bit lucky with injuries soon after and that gave me a chance to prove a point and prove I could play in this division and help Blackpool.
"It has turned out to be a great year for me and for the team and I'm delighted with how it has gone."
Gorkss received another accolade during the course of last season when he finished runner up in the Latvian player of the year awards.
The centre back is a popular figure in his home country, where he has nailed down a place in the national team and has been dubbed the 'David Beckham of Latvia'.
But the downside of his success is that he has caught the eye of other clubs and given the get-out clause in his contract, he is another player Blackpool are in risk of losing before the start of next season. Blackpool Gazette

WIKIPEDIA PROFILE
Club career
Gorkšs began his career at FK Auda, scoring 9 goals in 77 appearances. After a week long trial he joined Swedish club, Östers IF in December 2002, playing in the Allsvenskan, the Swedish top flight.[1] He moved to Assyriska Föreningen in 2005, who were then in the Allsvenskan. He moved back to Latvia in 2006 signing for FK Ventspils[2] and he scored 5 goals for Ventspils in the clubs Championship winning 2006 Virslīga season[3] He also played for Ventspils in the second qualifying round of the 2006-07 UEFA Cup, against English Premier League club Newcastle United.[4] and

Gorkšs joined Blackpool on 1 January 2007,[5] On 20 August 2007, Gorkšs was named in the Press Association's The Championship "Team of the Week".[6] Eight days later, Gorkšs scored his first goals for Blackpool in a League Cup second-round tie at Derby County. The Latvian's two goals were both equalisers — one in normal time and one in extra time — in a game that went to a penalty-shootout, won by Blackpool 7-6.[7] On 1 October Gorkšs was again named in the Press Association's The Championship "Team of the Week".[8]

Gorkšs scored his first league goal for Blackpool in their 1-0 victory over Scunthorpe United at Bloomfield Road on 10 November 2007.[9][10] On 29 December 2007 he was named as runner-up in the annual Latvian Player of the Year Awards by the Latvian Football Federation behind the winner, Vitālijs Astafjevs of Skonto.[11] He was named in The Championship "Team of the Week" for a third time on 25 February 2008, alongside teammate Stephen McPhee[12] and again on 10 March[13] He was named as the Yorkshire Seasiders Player of the Year on 6 May[14] and the following day Blackpool activated an option to extend his contract with the club by one year.[15] Following the season, his first full season in English football in which he had become a regular in the Blackpool side and scored seven goals, Gorkšs was linked with moves to various clubs including Scottish Premier League club Rangers, as well as fellow Championship clubs Burnley, Crystal Palace, Norwich City, Preston North End and Watford; however, he dismissed the moves as just rumours, stating, "From my point of view it's just a case of carrying on and seeing what happens, that's all I can really do."[16] On 29 May both he and fellow Blackpool player Wes Hoolahan were linked with a move to Norwich City. [17]....... Wikipedia Gorkss Profile